Noted Racehorse. In a six year racing career, Best Pal brought in $5.6 million for Golden Eagle Farms, the top California-bred racehorse in history. He retired No. 3 nationally and still holds the California bred horse earning record. This horse won the inaugural running of the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar and finished a close 2nd in the 1991 Kentucky Derby and the Santa Anita Derby. Best Pal went on the win the California Gold Cup at Hollywood Park. Retired in 1996 at the age of eight, he was to live out his life in easy retirement at Golden Farm in Ramona, California. He died while leading young horses, yearlings and 2-year olds, to their daily exercise at the nearby training track. While being ridden and after a light jog, the horse suddenly stumbled and collapsed, crashing through a fence. Best Pal was dead at ten years of age the result of an apparent massive heart attack. He was buried on the ranch and a huge boulder mounted over the grave with a simple plague, the inscription simply reading: Best Pal 1989-1998. (bio by: Donald Greyfield)